Jharkhand

Carved out of Bihar in 2000, after years of agitation by its largely adivasi population, Jharkhand yields almost forty percent of India’s minerals, but suffers from extreme poverty, lawlessness and Naxalite (Maoist guerrilla) activity, and is rarely visited by tourists. Although the area around the capital, Ranchi, and the main tourist attraction, Palamau (Betla) National Park, are now safe to visit, it’s vital to check the security situation before venturing out of those areas, and you should avoid travelling at night by road anywhere in the state.